Quiz: How Do Buildings Impact Our Health?

A green roof outside a Manhattan office could reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and help mitigate the urban heat island effect. Tenants who overlook this terrace benefit too: Being exposed to nature and greenery can reduce stress and improve concentration.

Photograph by DIANE COOK, LEN JENSHEL, National Geographic

PUBLISHED March 7, 2017

Whether it’s exercise, stress levels, or sleep, the buildings that surround us can help—or hurt—us, depending on how they’re built. As cities move toward green buildings, researchers are taking into account how the amount of time people spend indoors—90 percent of our lives—affects health. As a result, architects and city planners are designing buildings to create a better quality of life in our urban areas.